Alfeed dow neale



( No Model.)

' A. D. NEALE.

ANNUNGIATOR.

Patented Dec. 28,1897.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ONE-THIRD TO PATRICK L.

I-IEAPI'IY, OF SAME PLACE.

ANNUNCIATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 596,426, dated December 28, 1897.

Application filed March 1 7 1 89 7- To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED DOW NEALE, of Kittanning, in the countyof Armstrong and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Annunciators; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

This invention relates to annunciators; and the object is to provide a device of simple and improved form for indicating a telephone or other call, the automatic drop-annunciator being released by the first vibration of the call-bell clapper, so that if the person called is absent the annunciator will inform him of such call upon his return.

. lVhile the invention is particularly adapte for indicating telephone calls, its use is not limited thereto, for it is admirably adapted for annunciating calls through any circuit employing magneto-electric bells, and it is also well adapted for closing light and other aux iliary circuits.

The invention resides in the novel features of construction hereinafter fully described and claimed, and illustratedby the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a telephone provided with my improvement. Fig. 2 is a perspectiveview of the annunciator removed from the telephone. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the back plate of the annunciator.

Fig. 4 is a similar view of the drop; Fig. 5 illustrates a drop of slightly-modified form.

A is the back plate, formed with the side perforated lugs'B, by which it is secured by screws to the telephone-front below the callbells. Integral with the edges of plate A, beneath lugs B, are lips O, bent forward to form retaining-guides for drop D, which is adapted to move vertically on the front of plate A. The slide is slotted vertically at E and held to plate A by screws F, extending through said slot and into the plate.

The upper end of the drop is bifurcated to form projections G and H, of spear shape. The inner edges of these projections are in- Serial No. 628,025. (No model.)

clined, as shown, the inner edge of projection G terminating in catch G, while the corresponding edge of projection I-I terminates in catch H, which is below catch G, so that the said edge of projection I-I may constitute a guide, which terminates in a line extending substantially vertically through the point of catch G, whereby when the drop is raised to engage the stem-clapper I said stem will be directed beneath catch G, the proper normal position of the clapper being on the left-hand bell, so that in calls properly adjusted catch G will be the one to support the drop.

To provide against improper adjustment of telephone or other calls, catch 11 is provided, so that if the clapper should rest on the righthand bell the drop will be adapted to engage it. By arranging the catches as shown a positive guide for the clapper-stem to catch G is provided, and at the same time eifective for engaging the same with catch H when necessary.

If it is not thought necessary to provide against improper adjustment of the call, the form of drop illustrated in Fig. 5 maybe used, in which only one catch J is used, corresponding to catch G, the catch for projection K being omitted, but having its inner edge arranged to guide the clapper-stem to catch J, as-in the arrangement first described.

Opening L is formed in drop D, and the face of plate A beneath said opening when the slide is raised isimprinted with the word Call or other similar word, or the surface may simply be painted a contrasting color, so that when the drop falls upon the first vibration of the bell-clapper the hidden word or contrasting coloring is exposed through open ing L, and which may be readily observed by the person called upon approaching the instrument. Projection M at the lower end of the drop forms a convenient lift for the drop.

As before explained, the annunciator may be used for other than telephone calls, as will be readily understood, in such different use the back plate A simply being secured to a support convenient to the call-bell, so that the drop may be within reach of the clapper-stem.

The annunciator is also admirably adapted for use as a closer for light and other auxiliary circuits, such as N, one terminal of said circuit being secured to one of securing-screws B, and the other terminal secured to post 0, which the drop engages when in lowered position, thus closing the circuit through the plate-"A and drop D. Such auxiliary circuit may extend to any point or room or rooms for lighting or signaling. One of the many conveniences afforded thereby is the ability of the central operator to call the subscriber at any hour he may desire to be awakened. It may be used in connection with a series of independent circuits, one device being in each circuit and all adapted to be closed by the initial or primary annunciator.

The improvement is extremely simple and cheap and may be readily attached to any telephone-box or other signal-support. The operation is certain, as the drop will fall of its own weight at the first vibration of the clapper-stem.

Having thus fully described my invention,

what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. An improved annunciator including a vibratory support, a call-indicator adapted to move in a plane transverse the lineof vibration of the support and formed with a notched opening, the edges of the said indicator bein g inclined toward the entrance to said opening to guide the support thereinto when setting the indicator, substantially as shown and described.

2. An improved annunciator including a movable indicator, a support therefor adapted to vibrate in a plane at right angles to the plane of movement of the indicator, the indicator being formed with a notched opening and converging guides leading to the entrance to the opening to direct the support thereinto when setting the annunciator, substantially adjacent the entrance thereto, the opposite side of the entrance to the opening being inclined toward said overhanging notched portion and terminating at a point below the plane of the latter, and a vibratory support adapted to enter the opening of the indicator and engage the notch thereof and sustain the indicator in set position, substantially as shown and described.

4:. An improved annunciator including an indicator formed with an opening, the edges of the-entrance to the opening being inclined toward each other and terminating with abrupt notches within the opening, the

4 notches being in difierent planes, and a vibratory support adapted to enter the opening as the indicator is moved thereto and engage one of the notches, substantially as shown and described.

5. An improved annunciator including an indicator formed with a notched opening with the sides of the entrance to the opening converging and intersecting a line extending parallel with the line of movement of the indicator but at different points on said line, and a vibratory support adapted to be directed into the opening and engage the notch thereof, by said converging entrance sides, substantially as shown and described.

6. In an annunciator, the combination of an electric bell including a vibratory clapper, the notched longitudinally-slotted indicatordrop, back plate B provided with securing means and formed with integral guides O which embrace the edges of the indicatordrop, and screw F extended through the longitudinal slot of the indicator-drop and into the back plate B, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

ALFRED DOW NEALE.

Witnesses:

E. J. OUsHMAN, G. N. BACON. 

